Alzheimer's Expert Christine Kennard shares Alzheimer's management news and commentary at OurAlzheimers.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/75722/communication Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:31:00 -0400 Christine Kennard In the late stage of Alzheimer's people find it increasingly difficult to communicate their needs and their distress in a verbal way. Caregivers have to find new ways, and at a more basic level, to find activities that relax the person, decrease their anxiety and maintain their wellbeing.   There is evidence that even people with very advanced dementia can benefit through exploring mediums of interaction other than verbal communication... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/75722/communication http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/74745/caregiver-tips Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:25:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Paranoid delusions are distressing symptoms for some people with Alzheimer's. They are often more common in the later stages of the Alzheimer's disease. A delusion can be thought of as a false belief that, even in the light of contradictory evidence, remains fixed. The person with Alzheimer's genuinely believes the delusion is real. The caregiver, who spends many hours with them, is frequently accused of harming them in some way. The... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/74745/caregiver-tips http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/72294/caregiver-stage Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:14:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Alzheimer's disease can broadly be categorized in seven stages.  The severe stage of Alzheimer's suggests that it is probably around five years since the disease was first diagnosed. Bodily functions are now failing. The caregiver has, over the years, taken on more and more responsibility for the care and wellbeing of the person with Alzheimer's. In this sharepost I have put together some tips to help you be a more... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/72294/caregiver-stage http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/70917/caregiver-stage Wed, 20 May 2009 14:20:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Alzheimer's disease can broadly be categorized in seven stages. I have put together some tips to help you become a more effective caregiver during the Moderate stage (5 and 6) of Alzheimer's.   First Big Rule: Caregivers Must Look After Themselves You must care for yourself. Being a caregiver to someone with moderate, mid-stage Alzheimer's is very demanding. The brain of someone with Alzheimer's disease is becoming more and... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/70917/caregiver-stage http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/70035/caregiving-mild Tue, 12 May 2009 16:24:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Alzheimer's disease can broadly be categorized in seven stages. I have put together some tips to help you become a more effective caregiver in the early stages (Stage 3 and 4) of Alzheimer's.   First Big Rule! Caregivers Must Look After Themselves You must look after yourself. Find out all you can about Alzheimer's. Educate family and friends so that they can help you. Get support through your local chapter of the Alzheimer's... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/70035/caregiving-mild http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/68445/alzheimer Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:03:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Alcohol abuse is recognized as a major health problem in the United States and in many countries throughout the world. Alcohol may cause cognitive problems and in certain conditions may cause dementia. Let's look at what role alcohol has in causing alcohol-related dementia and how this differs to Alzheimer's disease.   Both Alzheimer's dementia and alcohol-related dementia cause brain damage. In Alzheimer's, plaques... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/68445/alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/66248/alzheimer Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:00:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Several models have been developed that describe the progressive worsening of symptoms and the loss of function of Alzheimer's disease. One of the most commonly used is the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) developed by B Reisberg and colleagues. It is used to answer some of the most frequently asked questions from caregivers and patients with Alzheimer's disease; " How long have we got?" and "What stage of the disease is he/she... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/66248/alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/65444/head-alzheimer Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:19:00 -0400 Christine Kennard A number of medical conditions can cause dementia. Some are reversible while others can lead to more permanent states of dementia. Alzheimer's disease accounts for about 55 percent of all dementia cases. Dementia due to head injury is comparatively rare and accounts for less than 5 percent of cases.   Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI's) affect an estimated two to three million people in the United States each year. Between 400,000 and... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/65444/head-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/63098/creutzfeldt Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:37:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, very rapid progressive form of dementia. Unlike Alzheimer's where causes have been identified as neurofibrillary tangles and a sticky protein called beta amyloid, in CJD  proteinaceous infectious particles, better known as prions, are the culprit. Compared with Alzheimer's, which is mainly associated with the older age group, CJD usually affects people between the ages of 50 and 70... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/63098/creutzfeldt http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/62546/aids-alzheimer Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:41:00 -0400 Christine Kennard Infection used to be the main cause of dementia. Treatment for infections and inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) has dramatically decreased the incidence of infection-related dementia. But there has been one infectious disease that has reversed the trend and that is HIV/AIDS. It is the statistical increase that is one of the few aspects in which HIV dementia can be compared to Alzheimer's. The big difference is that with... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/62546/aids-alzheimer